Triple Eight Race Engineering secured their fifth and sixth titles in five years with the Vauxhall Vectra after James Nash came out on top of the Independents Drivers’ title battle while the team secured the Independents’ Team title.
In the outright Championship, the team finished third overall while Nash finished fifth, equal on points with Mat Jackson but losing out on a countback of wins – Jackson finished with four wins to the single win of Nash.
Nash secured the Independents Drivers’ Title in the opening race after Jackson, who had been ahead of him throughout the race, slowed with a puncture with two laps remaining. Nash inherited third and this secured him his first BTCC title in his first full season in the series.
“Yeah, it’s great. We’ve worked hard all year and finished every race. That’s good for the team and it shows just how reliable cars they make. We’ve only finished out of the points three or four times l think so we’ve been super consistent and that’s what has delivered the Championship. We got the driver’s title in the first race and we tied up the team’s title in the second. Nice and early. I had one more on the agenda and that was to get fourth in the driver’s overall. All we needed was a point in the last race so it was close,” said Nash after the weekend.
“It’s been a fantastic season and the team and everyone from Swindon Engines have done a fantastic job. Thank you.”
In only his second weekend as a British Touring Car Championship driver, Ollie Jackson helped to secure the team the Independents Teams’ Title after making his move on Liam Griffin with two corners remaining of the second race.
Despite failing to score an outright Championship point in the six races he has contested for the team, he has enjoyed his experienced: “A point would have been nice but I’ve had so much fun. It’s proper racing and I’ve really enjoyed myself.”
The 2011 success marks Triple Eight’s twenty second title in their BTCC career and it was a fitting way to sign off the Vauxhall Vectra era – the Vectra took Fabrizio Giovanardi to the BTCC title in 2007 and 2008 as well as Teams’ Championship gory in 2008 and 2009.
“Our 22nd title, really?” said Triple Eight Chairman Ian Harrison. “See we’ve won everything! James has driven really well all season. He’s learnt a lot from last year. The team has done a good job. We haven’t had a mechanical failure in two years which must be a record.”
“Ollie drove like a proper touring car driver; I’m really pleased considering today was only his second meeting. He’s starting to get the hang of it!”